Steering wheel microphone



July 7, 1953 K. w. SMALL 2,644,858

STEERING WHEEL MICROPHONE Filed May 11, 1951 JNVENTOR IlI (FNA/Er# m SAMLL,

BY t I Pmdzqmm y 0mm ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 11953 UNITED s'mrrsl1 PATENT ori-1G51;lv

- l 27,644,858 Y n y s 'rEERiNG WHEEL 4MICROPHONE-f Kenneth W. Small, Independence,Mo. y ApplictonMay 11, 1951 serial No. zz'szif 2 claims. (c1. 179-146) This invention relates to improvements in steering wheels, and more particularly in a steering wheel assembly for 'a motor vehicle which includes a microphone.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved motor vehicle steering wheel wherein a microphone is installed to be used in conjunction with a radio transmitter mounted ron the motor vehicle, the assembly being simple in construction, involving only a few parts, and being easy to control by the person steering the vehicle.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle which includes a microphone installed therein, the assembly involving inexpensive parts, being durable in construction, and providing a considerable saving in space, as well as insuring that the microphone is in a convenient position for use by the operator of the vehicle at all times.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top `plan view of an improved steering wheel provided with a microphone installed in accordance with the present invention; n

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view V,taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 isa schematic wiringdiagram showing the connections of the microphonev of Figures 1 and 2 in relation to the radio transmitter mounted on the vehicle. I y

Referring to the drawings, designates a conventional motor vehicle steering column, and I2 designates the steering shaft rotatably mounted in the column II. Designated at I3 is a steering wheel which is formed at its hub portion with a recessl4. As shown in Figure 2,

l the steering post |2 extends into therecess I4 and is secured to the steering wheel I3 by a nut cured in the recess I4, said microphone being' provided with a supporting bracket I8 which is secured to the inside Wall of recess I4, rigidly y k2 a securing the microphone I1 centrally in the hubof the steering wheel withsaid microphone fac- -Y ing upwardly, as shown in Figure 2. A suitable protective covering screen I9 is securedin'the upper rim portion of recess I4 iny protective overlying relationship to microphone I1.

Referring now to the wiring diagramof Fig'- ure 4, it will be seen that the microphone `|1 has one terminal thereof connected to the vehicle radio transmitter 2D by a conductor 2|. The other terminal fof microphone |1 is connected by a conductor 22 to the armature 230i a relay 24. Associated with the armature 23 isy a stationary contact 25 which is connected by a conductor 2B to the radio transmitter, the

connection of themi'crophone to the ltransmitter being completed vwhen the "armature 23r engages the contact 25. `Normally, when the relay 24 is deenergized, the armature 23 is out of engagement with contact 25, whereby the microphone |1 is disconnected from the transmitter 20. The energization of the transmitter is controlled by another armature 21 controlled by relay 24 which is arranged to cooperatel with a stationary contact 28. Normally, when the relay 24 is deenergized, armature 21 is out of contact with respect to element 28 and the transmitter 20 is deenergized. However, when the relay 24 is energized, armature 21 engages contact 23, completing the energizing circuit for the transmitter and also l connecting the microphone I1 to said transmitter byv the engagement of armature 23 with contact 25.` The remainder of the energizing circuit for the transmitter'isr not shown, but the abovedescribedV arrangement is conventional and it is believed to be wellknown in the art, requiring no further description or explanation thereof. The relay 24 is controlled by a manually operated switch 3|y or by afoot operated switch 32. As shown in Figure 4, the switches 3| and 32 are connected in parallel-between one terminal of relay 24 and the ground, the otherL terminal of said relay 24 being connected by a wire 33 to one pole of a battery 34, the other pole of the battery being grounded. Closure of either switch 3| or switch 32 'energizes the relay 24, thereby energizing vtransmitter 20 and closing the circuit of microphone I1, as above described. The switch 3l is mounted in one of the spokes 35 of the steering wheel adjacent the rim 36 thereof. Secured on the stationary steering wheel column II and insulated therefromare respective contact rings 31, 38 and 39. The connection of switch 3| to the relay 24 is made through an insulated rigid brush ymember 39 which is in sliding contact with the ring 31 and remains in conductive engagement therewith when the steering wheel is rotated. The respective connections of the microphone |1 to the relay 24 and the transmitter 20 are made through respective rigid insulated brush members 40 and 4| which are secured in the hub of the steering wheel together with the brush member 39', and which make sliding contact with the respective contact rings 39 and 38, -as shown in Figure 2, and maintain-conductive engagement with said conductor rings when the steering wheel is ro- It will be readily apparent that in order to connect the microphone to the transmitter 20 and to energize the transmitter, it ismerely necessary for the operator to close the switch 3| or to close the switch 32, whereupon the operator may transmit a radio signal from the vehicle with no further manipulations of the apparatus. The operator may transmit radio signals while-driving the vehicle and without releasing the steering wheel, inasmuch as the switch 3| vmay be reached by one of the fingers of the hand gripping the rim 36 of the steering wheel.

While a specific embodiment of an improved microphone arrangement in a motor vehicle has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle having a stationary steering column and a steering wheel rotatably mounted on said column, said steering wheel including a hollow hub and a plurality of spokes secured to said hub, a microphone mounted in said hub, a. control switch mounted on one of said spokes, a. plurality of contact rings secured on said column, respective contact brushes carried by said steering wheel and engaging said contact rings, a control relay, an energizing circuit for said control relay including said control switch and certain oi' the Contact rings and contact brushes, and circuit means for connecting the microphone to a transmitter on the vehicle and including the contact of said control relay.

2. In a vehicle having a stationary steering column and a steering wheel rotatably mounted on said column, said steering wheel including a hollow hub a-nd a plurality of spokes secured to said hub, a microphone mounted in said hub, a

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Gilbert Dec. 20, 1949 Number 

